Hester Ann Hare Rowe
Hester Ann Hare Rowe, 97, died September 22, 2015, in Sun City Center, Fla. Surviving are her husband Russell; daughter MaryAnn; sons W. Douglas (wife Margaret) and Edgar S. (wife Donna); grandchildren Blake, Brandy and Sean; siblings Margaret H. Wheat of Wheeling, W.Va.; Andrew E. Hare of Alexandria, Va.; Charles Hare of Wheeling; and J. Richard Hare of St. Clairesville, Ohio.
Hester was born in Wheeling, where she also spent her early life. She received a bachelor’s degree from Bethany College, Bethany, W.Va., and a master’s in Social Work from Vanderbilt University.
In 1950, she married Russell H. Rowe, an Army Psychiatric Social Worker and accompanied him to various military stations until his retirement as a lieutenant colonel in 1972. Hester worked as a social worker for various children’s agencies where they were stationed. After retiring from the military they moved first to Ashland, Ore.,. and later Medford, Ore., where Russell worked for Rogue Valley Memorial Hospital (RVMH) and Hester worked part time as a social worker in the Neonatal Unit at RVMH.
Hester was a life member of Alpha Xi Delta national sorority, a member of the League of Women Voters, and a member of the American Association of University Women. She was an avid golfer, belonging to Oak Knoll Course in Ashland; Rogue Valley Country Club in Medford; and Caloosa Golf and Country Club in Sun City Center. Her hobbies included oil painting, ceramics, word games, crossword puzzles, reading and traveling. Her travels included all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Central America, Australia and Europe. She and Russell lived in a retirement apartment complex next to Caloosa Golf Club for her last 15 years.
No memorial service is planned. In keeping with her interest in the welfare of children, memorial contributions to Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607, would be appreciated.